What we're seeing lately with regard to the New York Islanders is not unprecedented. The team is suffering from what I warned of, in print and on the Secondary Assist podcast: A regression. All teams go through it. The larger question is, how soon until they get out of it?

The answer to that will ultimately decide their 2017-18 fate, not the sole fact that they suffered one.

- Anyone missing Nikolay Kulemin yet? I'm sure the Islanders and their abysmal penalty kill do. Sure, he's overpaid at a $4.5 million AAV, but he's a vital member of the four-man unit literally dragging the team down during this slide.

- The Islanders have allowed power play goals in eight of their last nine games, giving up two over four consecutive outings. The unit is 14 for their last 26 (53.8 percent), dropping them to 72.8 percent on the season -- just ahead of the Edmonton Oilers for dead last in the National Hockey League.

- The nightly softie occurred in the second period with the game scoreless, and the Bruins on the power play. Brad Marchand enters the Islanders zone with too much room, takes a snapshot at the net from the top of the circle that bounces in off Jaroslav Halak's pads and between the wickets. Those kinds of goals allowed are killing the Islanders right now.

- You can blame the goaltenders all you want, and they certainly deserve some of your wrath with an .898 team save percentage and, at least, one soft goal seemingly nightly as previously mentioned. But the defense -- from the defensemen out to the forwards -- has been terrible, something I wish I wasn't right to concern myself with over the summer.

- Ryan Pulock has shown increased confidence lately, a result of being put into the lineup. That is the only way he is going to learn, and for the Islanders to see what they have in the 23-year-old. The only thing that bothers me about his game recently is his reluctance to shoot the puck, which is baffling. He has passed up some glorious opportunities to showcase his cannon or get the puck to the net.

- Why is Scott Mayfield sitting? I understand head coach Doug Weight's desire to keep his eight-man rotation fresh as the season drags on. But is it prudent with the team struggling so much in their own zone to sit who is clearly your most improved player? Outside of Mathew Barzal, I can't think of anyone who has pleasantly surprised more.

- Speaking of Barzal, the electric rookie is still taking a run at a point-per-game pace as his assist last night gives him 28 points in 29 games. With Clayton Keller struggling, right now it's a two-horse race for the Calder between him and Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks (15-12-27).

- You have to love the game Andrew Ladd is playing right now. This is the winger the Islanders signed as a free agent in the summer of 2016. Slightly offpace offensively (7 goals in 29 games, pace of 20), he is showing much smoother skating due to a now healthy back, and much needed grit and toughness. Once again, there he was last night coming to the aid of Thomas Hickey in a scuffle with David Backes, who ended up getting a major for head-butting Ladd.

- Joshua Ho-Sang has had his moments, both good and bad, and that's to be expected when you're dealing with a player of his talents and personality. He, like many others on this team, seems allergic to shooting the puck. Last night on the power play, he had many chances to throw the puck on Tuuka Rask with traffic in the low slot, but instead opted for that frustrating curl and reset.

- How good is Anders Lee in front of the net? So strong and tough to reposition, once he sets up shop, he affords himself so many scoring chances its ridiculous. If not already, Lee is going to find himself in the discussion of top power forwards in all of hockey before long. We are 29 games in and he's halfway to his 2016-17 goal total (34).

- It's December and the trade market is historically quiet this time of year. There is no help coming for the defensive and goaltending issues. For now, it's what you see is what you get. And what the Islanders have gotten recently must improve. They play eight of their next 11 in Brooklyn, where they have been dominant, at 8-1-2.

The Islanders led by one after a wild first period but they let their lead slip away late in regulation befor Edmonton star Connor McDavid scored in overtime to hand the Isles a 4-3 loss. The Isles allowed at least four goals in consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 18 and 21. Their Metropolitan Division lead is two points after Washington defeated Toronto Thursday. >> Box score

The Islanders' surprising season sees them leading the Metropolitan Division with 24 games remaining, and with the trade deadline less than a week away they have been linked to one of the biggest names on the trade market.

In his weekly 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet, Elliotte Friedman writes that the Islanders are one of two "stealth desination(s)" for Ottawa's Matt Duchene along with Calgary. Columbus and Nashville are the teams primarily in on Duchene, who has 27 goals and 31 assists in 50 games and is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Islanders announce plans for potential home playoff games

First round would take place at Nassau Coliseum, other rounds at Barclays Center

Feb 15 | 6:32PM

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Dec 1, 2018; Uniondale, NY, USA; General view of the opening puck drop between the New York Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

The Islanders have been splitting their home games this season between Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center, and if they advance past the first round of the playoffs, the same will be true for the postseason.

On Friday, the club announced that if it makes the playoffs that first-round home games will be played at Nassau Coliseum. However, if the Islanders advance past the first round, they will play the rest of their home games at Barclays Center.

The New York Islanders have followed up one of their hottest months in years with an almost identical performance. But the Buffalo Sabres have spent the last two months undoing the margin for error they built up during a franchise record-tying 10-game winning streak.

Two teams on the opposite ends of the Eastern Conference playoff race will face each other Tuesday night, when the Sabres host the Islanders.

Both teams were off Monday after playing Sunday, when the Islanders earned their third straight win by edging the visiting Minnesota Wild, 2-1, and the host Sabres fell to the Winnipeg Jets, 3-1.

Surging Islanders face Wild, Sunday at 3 p.m.

Feb 10 | 10:22AM

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New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz looks on from behind the players bench against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. (James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports)

The Minnesota Wild and New York Islanders were separated by fewer than 20 miles Saturday afternoon, when the Wild served notice they are not ready to fall out of the Western Conference postseason race.

Meanwhile, the Islanders offered another reminder they need to be taken seriously as a legitimate contender to make a deep playoff run in the Eastern Conference.

The Wild and Islanders will look to build on Saturday's momentum on Sunday afternoon, when New York hosts Minnesota at Barclays Center.

The Colorado Avalanche are coming off their fifth straight loss, this time to the defending champion Washington Capitals on Thursday. Now they get to face the man who led Washington to the elusive Stanley Cup last year when they visit the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon.

Barry Trotz stunned some when three days after the Capitals beat the Vegas Golden Knights to win the title he was hired by the Islanders to be their head coach. It looks like New York made a shrewd move. The Islanders (31-16-6) sit atop the Metropolitan Division, two points ahead of Washington and winners of seven of their last 10.

Islanders score 1 goal in shootout to beat Devils 2-1

Bailey scores winner in fourth round

Feb 7 | 10:32PM

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(Ed Mulholland)

Josh Bailey scored the game winning goal in the fourth round of the shootout as the New York Islanders capped a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night at Prudential Center with a four-game season series sweep. >> Box score

The New York Islanders are surprisingly sitting atop the Metropolitan Division, ahead of the defending Stanley Cup-champion Washington Capitals and Sidney Crosby-led Pittsburgh Penguins in the hotly contested division.

Not only are they in a good perch, the Islanders (30-16-6, 66 points) have lost one game in regulation in their last nine outings (6-1-2).

So, you'd think they'd be feeling good about themselves these days. Guess again. >> Read More

Few could have imagined last summer that a February meeting between the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins could serve as a potential playoff preview. But the two teams may be sizing each other up for postseason series on Tuesday night, when the Islanders visit the Bruins.

Both teams ended losing streaks in their most recent games. The Islanders snapped a two-game skid by coming back from a third-period deficit to beat the visiting Los Angeles Kings 4-2 on Saturday night. The Bruins broke a three-game drought Sunday when David Krejci scored the only goal in the second period of a 1-0 win over the host Washington Capitals.

Feb 1 | 10:26PM

Islanders host NHL-best Lightning at 7 p.m.

Isles play first game since Jan. 22

Feb 1 | 6:00PM

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Nov 8, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Islanders right wing Josh Bailey (12) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports (Kim Klement)

By the time faceoff arrives Friday night, the New York Islanders will have waited nearly 10 days to play a hockey game. The Tampa Bay Lighting will have waited even longer for a rare chance at revenge.

The two division leaders in the Eastern Conference are scheduled to meet Friday night, when the Islanders return from the All-Star Break and their subsequent bye week by hosting the Lightning at Nassau Coliseum.

The Islanders have been off since Jan. 22, when they went into the break with a 3-2 shootout loss to the host Chicago Blackhawks. The visiting Lightning returned to action Wednesday, when they fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-2.

Barzal scored twice in final and finished day with 4 assists

Jan 26 | 10:25PM

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(Kyle Terada)

Henrik Lundqvist was not the only New York area athlete to impress at the NHL All-Star Game on Saturday.

Islanders' Mathew Barzal scored two goals and finished the day with four assists while Devils' Kyle Palmieri also had a goal and an assist in the two games they both played for Team Metropolitan, which won the 3-on-3 style tournament with a 10-5 victory over the Central.

Barzal and Palmieri both scored in the first period of the NHL All-Star Game final, with Barzal setting the tone with a wrister 22 seconds into the game.

NHL commissioner: League will ultimately decide where Islanders host playoff games

Islanders have good playoff hopes after strong first half

Jan 25 | 9:11PM

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Home is where the Islanders are?00:00:53

The first question at Gary Bettman?s press conference was about the Islanders and their arena for potential playoff games.

The Islanders have turned their franchise around exactly the way they wanted to this season. From ownership to coaching to renewed success on the ice, the Isles went into the All-Star breakare sitting at the top of the Metropolitan Division at 29-15-5 with playoff hopes in sight.

But that's the big question: Where will the Islanders play their home playoff games?

During the NHL All-Star press conference, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the situation, saying the league would ultimately have the final say on where New York will play.

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John Tavares compliments Islanders' 'tremendous season' so far

Islanders ahead of Tavares' Maple Leafs in standings

Jan 25 | 9:38AM

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares battles for the puck against New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. (Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)

John Tavares controversially left the Islanders in the offseason to sign a seven-year, $77 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, his hometown team.

But at the All-Star break, his Maple Leafs trail the Islanders in the Eastern Conference standings by one point.

"They're having a tremendous season. Obviously, it's a complete 180 on the defensive side," Tavares said, according to Newsday's Mark Herrmann. "Goaltending has been a big part of that, but just not giving up a whole lot defensively and it's leading to a lot of success, a lot of wins."

Islanders' streak comes to end in 3-2 shootout loss to Blackhawks

Islanders were winners of five straight entering game

Jan 20 | 5:28PM

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Jan 22, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Alex DeBrincat (12) tries to score against the New York Islanders during the second period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports (Kamil Krzaczynski)

The Islanders were unable to hold onto two separate one-goal leads as they fall to the Chicago Blackhawks in a shootout, 3-2, to end a five-game winning streak. >> Box score

Cal Clutterbuck leads red-hot Islanders to 3-0 win over Ducks

Islanders win fifth straight game

Jan 20 | 5:28PM

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New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck celebrates the second of his two first period goals against the Anaheim Ducks with teammates during the first period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

Cal Clutterbuck scored two goals in the first period to lead the Islanders to a 3-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday at Nassau Coliseum. >> Box score

Surging Islanders host Ducks, Sunday at 3 p.m.

Jan 20 | 11:13AM

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(Geoff Burke)

The New York Islanders and Anaheim Ducks were traveling the most dissimilar paths in the NHL for most of the last month. But the two teams will both carry winning streaks into action Sunday afternoon, when the Islanders host the Ducks at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.

The Islanders were off Saturday after earning their fourth straight win Friday night, a 2-0 victory over the visiting Washington Capitals. The Ducks will be completing a back-to-back Eastern Conference swing after edging the host New Jersey Devils, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon.

The win Friday was the 14th in the last 17 games dating back to Dec. 15 for the Islanders, who at least momentarily moved into first place in the Metropolitan Division by virtue of beating the Capitals. New York, which hasn't won a division title since the 1987-88 season, has been in first place this late in a season just twice since the 1990-91 campaign.

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Islanders on 4-game win streak after shutting out Capitals, 2-0

Josh Bailey and Cal Clutterbuck score one goal each in third period

Jan 18 | 10:13PM

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(Geoff Burke)

The Islanders had a slow start after two periods with no score, then jumped ahead on Josh Bailey's 11th goal of the season to defeat the Capitals 2-0 at Capital One Arena on Friday night. >> Box score

The Rangers finally broke their five-game slump on Saturday, edging the Islanders at the Barclays Center, 2-1, courtesy of a go-ahead goal from Mats Zuccarello14:55 into the final period and 24 saves out of goaltender Alexander Georgiev. >> Box score

When the New York Islanders and New York Rangers split a pair of high-scoring games in November, it appeared both teams might stay in contention for postseason spots in the Eastern Conference.

Nearly two months later, the Islanders are ascending while the Rangers are dealing with a significant tailspin and falling way behind in the playoff race.

On Saturday afternoon, the teams will get together for the last time this season and for the last time at Brooklyn's Barclays Center when then Rangers visit the Islanders in the back end of a home-and-home set. >> Read more

Rangers, Islanders both need a victory around halfway mark ahead of home-and-home

The Islanders have held a significant edge over the Rangers

By Scott Charles | Jan 10 | 1:12PM

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(Adam Hunger)

A battle against your cross-town rival is one way to snap out of a funk. Both the Islanders and Rangers need a victory Thursday night as the teams prepare to play against each other at Madison Square Garden in the front end of a home-and-home.

The Rangers must find a way to prevent the ship from completely collapsing after an ugly four-game losing streak in which they were outscored 22-5 and Henrik Lundqvist was chased from the net twice.

The Islanders fell to the Hurricanes on Tuesday, snapping an impressive six-game winning streak highlighted by a dominant 4-0 win over the Maple Leafs in Toronto.

Islanders score four straight, hold off Blues comeback in 4-3 win

Isles come out firing in 3rd period to secure road win

Jan 5 | 10:41PM

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Jan 5, 2019; St. Louis, MO, USA; New York Islanders left wing Matt Martin (17) is congratulated by right wing Cal Clutterbuck (15) and center Casey Cizikas (53) after scoring during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports (Jeff Curry)

The Islanders scored four straight goals, three of which in the third period, and held off the Blues late comeback effort to secure a 4-3 road victory. Read more >>

Jan 4 | 8:55AM

Islanders rookie defenseman Devon Toews scored his first-career NHL goal 1:48 into overtime to give New York a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday at Nassau Coliseum.

"It's pretty special to get your first NHL goal in overtime," Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said, according to Newsday's Andrew Gross.

The 24-year-old Toews, a former fourth-round pick who had spent 130 games with AHL Bridgeport before making his debut on Dec. 23, took a shot from the right face-off circle that Blackhawks goalie Collin Delia initially stopped. But Toews picked up the rebound and shot the puck between Delia's legs for the winner.

Islanders C Mathew Barzal selected to 2019 NHL All-Star Game

The 21-year-old will play in his first All-Star Game

Jan 2 | 8:54PM

Islanders young star C Mathew Barzal has been selected to represent his team in the 2019 NHL All-Star Game.

Barzal, who will play in his first career All-Star Game, has been the center of the Isles' success on the offensive end this season. He leads the team with 36 points, and has a team-high 26 assists as well.

This selection comes a few days after being named the Player of the Week in the NHL. He had six points with five goals and one assist last week that came on a hat-trick last Saturday against the Maple Leafs.

The San Jose Sharks' SAP Center will be the location for the All-Star Game that will take place on January 26.

Hitting the road isn't normally seen as a good thing for NHL teams, but the New York Islanders are embracing their longest trip of the season to date.

New York (15-12-4) starts a four-game Western Conference swing Monday night at Colorado with a good attitude and with the hope of building momentum after a 4-3 shootout win over Detroit on Saturday night.

"I think it's kind of nice, get on the road, be together as a group, kind of get that bonding again," center Mathew Barzal told Newsday after the win over the Red Wings. "I get excited playing in front of other fans. I think we all do."

Mathew Barzal scored the game-tying goal and helped lead his time to victory with a goal during a shootout as the Islanders edged the Red Wings, 4-3, on Saturday night at the Nassau Coliseum. >> Box score

NEW YORK (AP) Tomas Nosek scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period and the surging Vegas Golden Knights beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson also scored to help the Golden Knights win for the 10th time in 13 games. Marc-Andre Fleury, making his 11th straight start, stopped 23 shots to take over the NHL victory lead with 18.

Anthony Beauvillier and Adam Pelech scored for New York. The Islanders have lost six of eight (2-4-2). Robin Lehner finished with 14 saves to fall to 0-4-2 in his last seven appearances.